Legislators examine gaming safety
The Texas House Committee on State Affairs held a hearing in Austin on Tuesday to identify inherent risks to minors and evaluate the effectiveness of platform safety features. Discussions focused on tools such as parental controls, content labeling, chat filters, and age verification.
What they’re saying:
“Gaming platforms can provide characteristics that bad actors may exploit,” testified Dr. Cathy Martinez-Prather, Director of the Texas School Safety Center at Texas State University. “Large youth populations, social interactions, anonymity, private community and communities organized around shared interests and priorities.”
“Research shows children’s baseline interpersonal skills have remained remarkably stable across generations, but the deterioration in social and functional outcomes occurs specifically when adolescents engage in heavily algorithmically driven platforms, not just any screen like TV,” he said. “Furthermore, heavy technology use is linked to depression and anxiety symptoms.”
It remains unknown what specific legislative actions or bills may result from the committee’s hearing to regulate online gaming safety features.
In this photo illustration, the Roblox logo is seen displayed on a smartphone. (Photo Illustration by Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Representatives with Roblox, considered the largest free-to-play online platform and game creation system, declined to testify at the hearing.
“Roblox has a robust multilayered safety system and we share Texas lawmakers’ deep commitment to keeping kids safe online. We have submitted detailed written testimony to the Texas House and Senate State Affairs Committees on our industry-leading safeguards and safety policies, and we will continue to engage constructively with policymakers,” the company told FOX 4 in a statement.
————————————————
